Disclosure

POLICY ON DISCLOSURE

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation is proud of the conferences and other educational opportunities it sponsors, taking care that the conduct of these activities conforms to the standards and principles of behavioral and medical sciences, thus ensuring balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all individually sponsored or jointly sponsored educational activities.

All faculty members participating in a sponsored activity, and those who review and therefore are in control of content, are requested to disclose any relevant financial relationship prior to the CME activity, including but not limited to specific commercial interests, financial remuneration received by faculty member or spouse, and what role or activity was performed for this remuneration. If a conflict of interest exists as a result of a financial relationship it will be resolved prior to the activity. A faculty member will not be allowed to present if the conflict is not or cannot be resolved.

Definitions:

Commercial Interest: Defined as any entity producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing healthcare goods or services, used on, or consumed by patients. Providers of clinical service directly to patients are not considered to be commercial interests.

Conflict of Interest: Circumstances that create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of a commercial interest with which he/she has a financial relationship.

Financial Relationships: Relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received or expected. An accreditation agency considers relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.

Relevant Financial Relationships: Defined as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a conflict of interest. They are considered relationships with commercial interests in the 12-month period preceding the time that the individual is being asked to assume a role controlling content of the CME activity. There is not a set minimal dollar amount for relationships to be relevant. Inherent in any amount is the incentive to maintain or increase the value of the relationship.